The End of Me: Where Real Life in the Upside-Down Ways of Jesus Begins

by Kyle Idleman

Being humbled is something we think of as a passive

activity—that is, somebody or something humbles us. We are humbled by unemployment, by a failed relationship, by a dream shattered. But Jesus speaks of a humbling that is active—we are the humblers. This is not something we wait for to occur naturally. “Humble yourself.” It doesn’t sound right, does it? Almost a little masochistic. We’re used to being advised to assert ourselves, not to humble ourselves.

And there it is again: taking ownership of our own humility.

Getting it done. But how? What does it look like? How can we humble ourselves without becoming proud of our humility and wrecking the whole thing? All I can offer you is a list of ideas I’ve found helpful. You can add to this list, I’m certain, but here’s what helps me get to the end of me:

If I

confess because I got caught, I’m humbled—but I’m not humbling myself. If I confess because I’m confronted, I’m humbled—but I’m not humbling myself. Voluntary confession is a way of humbling myself, and God exalts those who do it. That’s his promise. The alternative is to keep putting up a front.

In Philippians 2:3, Paul wrote, “In humility value others above yourselves.” It’s the modern way, turned on its ear. We’re taught to be self-reliant and look out for number one, but what if I placed a higher value on others than myself?